Rat trap



N. B. BRANDENBURG.

HAT TRAP.

' APPLICATION man JAN.1,1920. l

Patented Jall- 17,1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- 59 4/ 3;, TI 7 7E /11/-6/1 0f N'. B. BRANDENBURG.

RAT TRAP.

APPLICATION miv JAN. 7, 1920.

1,404,088. Patented Ja11. 17,1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- N. B. BRANDENBURG.

RAT TRAP.

APPLICATION mEu 1AN.1, |920. 1,404.088. Patented Jan. 17, 1922., 4' 5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

N. a. BRANDENBURG.

NAT TRAP. '1 O88 APPucAnoN man JANJ. 1920. Patented Jan. 17 1922- ssNEETs-SNEEH.

if? gv o? 0 95 9a I5* Z41- 4-0" In :fen-inf PATENT OFFICE.

NAPOLEON IB. BRANDENBURG, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

RAT TRAP.

Application filed January 7, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.' I

Be it'known that I, NAPOLEON B. BRAN- VvDnNnUnc., a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, re-

siding at Columbus, in the county of Bartholomewand ltate of indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in hat Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the Vart to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rat traps and has for its primary object, the provision of a trap which will be of simple construction and operation as well as highly etlicient in use and inV which all the parts may be readily re- Vmoved for cleaning.

. Another object of the invention resides in the provision-of a rat trap in which novel connecting and operating means may-be pro'- vided for the drop and hoist pedals or plates hinged beneath the baitholders in the trap section7 the connectingand operating means being supported by the outer door or wall of the. trap section and the removable partition plate between the trap section and the cage section of the device,

A further object of the invention resides in the pro-vision of a trap of the above stated character in which the drop door carried by the yhoist pedal or plate and the false bottom beneath the hoist pedal or plate will effectively serve to close the rodent in the compartment of the trap section immediately upon its entry into this compartment from the drop pedal o-r plate and from which compartment the rodent may find its way beneath Ythe spring pressed door into the cage section of the device.

The invention has* for a still further object, the provision of Ia trap of the above stated character infwhich the operative parts may be readily mounted in the sections thereot andthe sections and partition plate as well as the sectional cover, readily assembled when it is desired to use the trap.

Many other objects will appeal' as the description proceeds and it will be'understood thatA the invention consists in the combination` arrangement and cooperation of the va- Specication of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 349,857.

rious parts thereof as hereinafter clearly set forth, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and in which Figure iris a side elevationof the trap, looking at the cage side thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trap.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the entrance end of the trap.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view looking downwardly, said section being taken on the line of Figure 3.

Figure is a transverse ,vertical'sectioiny taken on the line of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6 of Figure Q, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through the trap section of the device, as indicated by the section lines 7 7 of Figure 3, showing the partsv in operative position.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the trap section looking at the inner side thereof which connects with the cage sec-tion.

i `igure 9 is an enlarged detail perspective of one hinge corner of the trap.

-Figure l0 is a. detail perspective view of the partition plate, removed.

Figure ii is a perspective view of the cage section, looking at the inner side thereof which connects with the rtrap section;

Figure i2 is a fragmentary detail section, taken on line l2-12 of Figure 2 and showing the manner of mounting the water container in the trap section. i

Referring more in detail to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, i designates the fioor of the trap section and Q- the floor of the cage section of the device. i The body of the trap sec tion is preferably constructed of metal. which is bent to forni the outer side wall i3. die-frontl end wall i and the rear end wall 5, the lower edge of all of the walls being secured to the side and end edge portions of the bottom l, in any suitable and well known manner. The front end wall 4 is provided with a suitable opening to form the entrance doorway7 or entrance opening 6, as clearly Patented Jan. 17, 19.2.2.Y

ward one another, to provide runways or` channels 7 for the vertical ends or edge portions of the paitition plate 8 betweenthe trap section and the cage section and which"v also serves as the inner side of the trap Asection when in position After forming the channels 7, the edges of the end members 4 and are again turned and extended outwardly away from one another to form channels 9 for the inwardly directed inner vertical edges 10 of theV end portions 11 of the cage section, which cage section valso includes an outer sideor front side 12. The

` cage section is preferably formed of strong wire ymesh and is provided with an exit doorway or lopening 13 in its rear end porl tion, which is normally closed by the sliding door 14 having its opposite side or vertical edges riding in channel guides 15 carried by the rear end portion along the opposite -V edges ofthe doorway or opening 13 and preferably upon the inner side of said rear end portion. The door 14 may be raised and lowered by the operating rod 16 secured in the upper edge thereof and working through guide members 17 and 18 mounted on the inner face of said rear `end portion of the cage section. The rod 16 carries a suitable handle 19 upon its upper free'en'd, by means ofwliich the rod may be readily inanipulated. X

Outward spreading movement of the end portions 11 of the cage section is prevented by the 'hooks 20, carried by said end portions 11 and removably engaged in the notches 21 provided therefor in the upper edge of the partition plate 8. The hooks 2O also assist in holding the partition plate 8y in proper position.

The partition plate 8 is provided with a central notch or recess 22'aiid a pin receiving opening 23 beneath the notch 22, the purpose'of which will presently appear. The partition plate 8 is further provided withv an opening or doorway in its lower portion andadjacent its forward end, as

designated by the numeral 24, the material along the vertical edges of the doorway 24 being directed'outwardly in parallel relation into the cage section and bent back from one another to form inclined side flanges 25 against which normally rests the spring actuated door 26 hinged at its Lipper end above the doorway 24` as shown at 27 and provided with teeth 28 along its lower edge which are bent slightly, the toothed lower edge of the door 26 being spaced slightly above the floor 2 of the cage section. The door 26 is normally retained in its closed pothat a rodent caught in the trap section may c vreadily force its way under the door 26 .and raisev the latter against the action ofthe spring 29, the spring 29 and the teeth 28 of the door 26 `cooperating to prevent the rodent from returning to the trap section and the door 2 6 automatically closing after the rodent has passed beneath the same into the cage section.

In order to effectively close the upper ends of the trap and cage sections, I .have provided a two part open work cover which is preferably constructedV of wire mesh with metallic or reinforced side and end portions extended downwardly for engagement along Vthe sidesv and ends of the trap. The section of the cover Vfor engagement 'over the trap section Vis designated by the numeral 30 andthe depending edges thereof are indicated by the numeral 31, while the cover section for engagement over the cage section of the trap is designated by the numeral 32, the depending edges of this cover section being indicated by the numeral 33.v

The cover sections 30 and 32 have Vhinged members 34 and 35 respectively along their inner edges and through which the hinge rod 36 is extended to connect the cover sections. 'When the cage sectionV and partition plate are removed from the trap section, the cover .may be placed in position or re-V moved by spreading the upper portions of the ends 4 and 5 of the trap body, which ends 4 and 5 carry'socket'bearings 37 for the ends of the hinge rod 36, it being understood that the hinge sections 30 and 32 must be swung upwardly 'during the operation of placing the cover upon the trap section or removing the cover therefrom. A handle 38 is also carried by the hinge rod 36, by means of which the trap may be readily transported from place to place when assembled. Vhen all of the parts of the trap are properly assembled, the'cover section 30 may be secured in closed position by means of the hook 39 carriedbyI the trap section and adapted for engagement in the Vcatch member 40 carried by the cover section 36.

The cover section 32 may be secured in for engagement over'th'e upper edge of the front end 4 of the trap section. By -placing the bait container in this position, the closed and locked cover section will prevent the cover 44 of the bait container 43 from being raised by a rodent entering the trap.` Additional bait may be'secured upon the lower turned end 46 of the bait hook 47, the upper end 48 of the hook is turned back for engagement over th'e'upper edge of the rear end 5 of the body of the trap section, while water may be supplied in the water vessel 49 suspended in one rear corner of the trap section by a pair of hook members 50 mounted thereon by the wires 51 encircling the water vessel 49 to clamp the hook supporting members 50 vin engagement with opposite side of the Avessel 49.: Theupper ends 52 of the hook supporting Vmembersj50 have their ends turned back for engagement over the upper edges of the outer side 3 and the rear end 5 of the trap section body, as clearly shown in the drawings. In order to cause a rodent approaching the trap to believe that other rodents are within the same, a mirror 53 is removably mounted in the supporting frame 54 secured Vto the inner face of the rear end 5 of the body .to hold f the mirror in position opposite the entrance Cri opening 6 for the purpose of reflecting the image of the approaching rodent. The mirror support-ing frame 54 includes a lower stop member 55 for limiting downward vmovement of the mirror 53.within the frame 54.

vlVithin the trap section is secured a false bottom 56 which has its rear end connected with the front vertical plate 57 of the transverse central partition 58 secured upon the bottom l of the trap section, while the free forward end'of the false bottom 56 rests between the supporting arch 59 mounted on the Vtransverse strip or flange 59 secured there-beneath to the inner face of the trap section front 4, and the hinge member 60 also carried upon the inner face of the trap section front 4, above the-free end of 'the false bottom 56. The hinge member 60 includes parallel ears 61 through which is engag-ed a hinge pin 62 which also extends through parallel earsv 63 projecting from the forward end ofthe hoist pedal or plate 64 which normallyrests upon the false bottom 56 and carries a drop door 65 which is hinged to a depending transverse flange 66 carried b v the hoist pedal or plate 64, rearwardly of the false bottom 56, the drop door extending between the front plate 57 and the rear plate 67'of the transverse partition 58, while the rear end of the'hoist pedal or plate 64 extends over the rear plate 67 of the transverse partition 58, thereby preventing the drop door 65 from being interfered with. The front plate 57 and the rear plate 67 are provided with registering central openings forming a passage 68 through which the rodent may pass in entering the compart ment beneath the -false bottom 56, as will be later clearly understood. A cover plate 69 is hinged at the lower edge of the entrance opening 6, asshown at 70 and normally rests upon the forward end of the hoist pedal or plate- 64 to cover and protect the hinge mechanism thereof. Cooperating with the hoist pedal or plate 64 'is the drop pedal or plate 7l, which is positioned in the rear portion of the trap section and mounted upon'a removable pin 72 which extends through the parallelV ears 73 projecting from the rear end of the drop pedal or plate 71 and through theears7 4 ofthe hinge members 75 mounted on the inner face of the rear end 5 of said trap section, beneath the mirror supporting frame 54. vThe trap pedal or plate 7l has the forward end thereof suspended above the floor l of the trap section and beneath the rear end of plate64-wlien in normal position. It will be evident that the hoist pedal or plate 64 and drop door 65 have a combined weight greater than the weight of the drop pedal or plate A7l and therefore the weight member 76 is mounted thereon in a suitable manner, asshown at 7 7 to increase the weight of theA latter, the object of which Will later appear. A substantially U-shaped member 7 8 is secure'd'in inverted position to the sides of the hoist pedal or plate 64, forwardly of the `longitudinal centre thereof, as shown at 79, while the eye 8() is formed at the centre of the member 78, above the hoist pedal or plate 64, for vremovable engagement by the hook Sl on the forward end of the rock arm 82, which carries a similar hook 83 at its opp0 site or rear end for removable engagement with the eye 84 formed centrally of the U- shaped member S5 which is inverted and secured by its spaced leg portions to the sides of the drop pedal or plate 71, rearwardly of the longitudinal centre thereof. The rock arm 82 is pivoted centrally upon the support-ing pin S6, which is engaged through the opening 23 in the partition plate 8 and through the turned back lower edge 87 of the supporting plate 88, a central recess 89 being provided in the turned back lower edge 87 to accommodate the rock arm 82. The suspending rod 90, extended through the rolled upper edge of the supporting plate 88 has its extended ends turned right angled from its main portion, as shown at 92, one end 0f the rod 90 resting in the notch 22 in the upper edge of the partition plate 8 while the opposite end of the'jrod 90 rests in a corresponding notch 93 in the central portion of the outer side 3 of the trap section and along the upper edge thereof. Hinged pins 62 and 72 may be readily removed from the outer side of the trap section, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connectiony with the accompanying drawings it will be evident' that all ofthe operative parts,l and baitliolders may be readily removed fromthe trap sec-tion and the other parts disconnected for' the purpose of cleantion ojtthe. drop pedal or plate 7l land hoisty pedal or platev 64 in opposite directions, carf rying the rodent downwardly in the rear portion of the trap section to a position op positethe passage 68 with the dropdoor 65 raised, whereby the rodent may pass through the passage 68 into the compartment beneath the lalse bottom 56, immediately after which the drop pedal or plate 7 land hoist pedal or. plate 64, together with the operative parts connected therewith will return automatically to normal position, closing the rodent in the compartment beneath the false bottom 56 and resetting the trap forl the next victim. After the rodent has been closed inthe compartment beneath the false bottom 56 it may force itsxway underthe spring pressed door V26 to, enter they cage section of the trap,

, whercit will be prevented :from returning to Ytheltrapsection of thedevicefpand may be removed by way of the vexit opening 18 at the pleasure ofthe operator or attendant. v

. When it is desired to take apart the trap,

, the hook: 4l is released, the cover section 32 swung backwardly, the hoolrsQO withdrawn from fthe notches 2l, the supporting pin S6 withdrawn from` the supporting plate 88 y and the partition plate 8, and the end of the supporting rod 90 disengaged from the central notch or recess 22 of the partition plate S. llhe'partition plate 8 may then be raised upwardly and completely withdrawn from between the trap rand cage sections, the cage section removed, theends of the trap section sprung outwardly to remove the sec tionall cover, and all of the operative parts within the trap section 'disconnected and withdrawn. therefrom. The bait supporting members may also be readily removed from the vtrap section and the complete device cleaned and reassembled. It will be evident in reassemblingv the parts, the operation-or order of Aassemblingrthem must be'reversed. `While ythe preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understoodv that many minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement otparts may bev resorted to within thel scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention I I is claimed is- I,

l; A trap comprising a trap section, a cage section removably vconnected with said trap section, a partition. plate removably mount. edfbetween saidsections, operative mechanism `withinsaid trap section for directing av victimwithin the trap section into a closed compartment thereim and means for supporting said operative mechanism upon the walls `of saidvtrap section and said partition plate, said partition plate having a passage formed therein to provide communication between such closed compartment and said cagesection.

...2. A trap comprising a trap section, a cage section supported thereby, a removable partition. plate between said sections, said trap section having. an. entranceopening, a hinged member adjacent said entrance opening, a. second hinged member connected with the first mentioned hinged p member and adapted to direct avi ctim positioned thereon to a compartment beneath the first mentioned `hinged member, means carried said irstj mentioned hinged member to .close said compartment when said first mentioned hinged member is in normal position, said partition plate having a door opening forming communications between said compartment` of the trap section vand the cage section', a door for normally closing said door opening, anda cover for said sections.

A trapl comprising a trapsection, a cage sectioirdetachably, connected therewith, a partition plate positioned between said `,trap section and said cage section, a hinged member within said .trapsection, a second hinged member in said trap section, means 'for connecting said hinged members, a falsebottom beneathone of said hingedmembers to form the upper wallof a compartment in said trap section, a Vdrop kdoor carried by the last mentioned -liinged member to close said compartment when said hinged member is in its lowermost position, said drop door being adaptedto be raised to open said compartment for a victim leaving the iirst mentioned hinged member and passing on to the other hingedV member. to force the same downwardly and raise the first mentioned hinged member, a normally closed door carried by said partition plate to` permit the victim to pass fromthe compartment of the trap sectioninto thelcage section, a cover for said sections, and means within said trap section for attracting victims to the interior thereof. v

e 4. vA trapv comprising a trap section, a cage section mounted on said trap section, a partition plate between said sections, said trap section having' an entrance opening, image reecting means opposite said entrance opening and within said trap section, bait carrying means within said trap section, op-V positely swinging platforms within lsaid trap section, one of said platforms being mounted over a victim receiving compartment, a door carried by said platform to normally lose said compartment, means for guiding` said door when being raised and lowered and preventing the victim from opening the door after being caught in the compartment, balancing and connecting means between said platforms, supporting means for the last mentioned means carried by one wall of the trap compartment and said partition plate, and covering means for said sections,'said partition plate having a normally closed connecting' door between the compartment of the trap section and the cage section.

5. A trap comprising a trap section having an entrance opening, a platform hinged beneath said entrance opening and within said trap section, a false bottom beneath said platform and forming a victim receiving compartment, a drop platform hinged in the opposite end of said trap section and extended toward the first mentioned platform, said first mentioned platform normally rest-ing' upon said false bottom, a drop door depending from the free end of said first mentioned platform to normally close said' compartment, a guide frame for said drop door and surrounding and protecting the same in closed position, said drop platform beingl adapted to be swung dow wardly by the weight of the victim passing on to the same from the first` mentioned platform, whereby the drop door will be raised to permit the victim to enter the victim receiving compartment and be closed therein by dropping of the first mentioned platform and the drop door carried thereby, connections between said platforms, supporting means for said connections, a cage section mounted on said trap section, and a partit-ion plate between said sections, said supporting means being carried by said partition plate and the opposite wall of said trap section, said trap section having a door through which the victim mav pass into the cage section.

6. A trap comprising a trap section having an entrance opening, a pair of platforms hinged in said trap section at points below the plane of the entrance opening thereof, said platforms having their free ends extended. toward one another, one of said platforms being'normally in suspended position, a victim receiving compartment beneath the remaining platform, said remaining platform normally resting upon said victim receiving compartment, a rock arm extended longitudinally above said platforms, connecting members pivoted upon the ends of said rock arm and having forked portions connected with said platforms, a drop door carried by the said remaining platform to normally close the victim receiving compartment, said drop door being raised with the said remaining platform, guide means for said drop door, removable hinge mountings for said platforms, a cage sectiony opposite said trap section, a partition member between said sections, supporting means for the rock arm being mounted on said partition plate and one wall of said trap section, and communicating door carried by said partition member and adapted to be forced open into the cage section by the victim passing thereinto from the compartment of the trap section, said cage section having an exit opening through which the victim may be removed, a door closing said exit opening, and a sectional cover for said trap, one section of the cover serving to close each section of the trap.

7. A trap comprising a trap section, a cage section removably mounted on said trap section, a partition plate removably mounted on said trap section to close the latter from said cage sect-ion, said partition plate having a communicating door opening` for said trap section and said cage section, a normally closed door engaged against said door opening, a sectional cover removably mounted on said trap section, said trap section having a victim receivingl compartment formed therein, operative members within said trap section to direct a victim to said compartment, removable mounting means for said operative members, said supporting means being removably mounted on said partition plate and one wall of said trap section, and removable bait supporting members mounted in said trap section.

8, A trap comprising separate trap and cage sections, means carried by said trap section and said cage sections for interlocking engagement, said trap section having an entrance, means within said trap section for trapping a victim entering the same. and a partition removably mounted in the interlocking means between said trap section and said cage section with a communicating and normally closed opening in said partition.

9. A trap comprising a trap section of rectangular form and including a bottom member, a cage section of rectangular form and including a bottom member. each of said sections including an open side, interlocking flanges carried by the said sections at their open sides, the flanges of ono of said sections serving as a guide, apartition removably positioned in said guide formed by the flanges, a normally closed door carried by said partition to form communication between said sections1 said door adapted to be opened by the victim passing into the cage section, said trap section having an entrance opening, pivoted trapping members mounted in said trap section to direct a victim entering the trap section to the cage section,

and supportingmeans -for the trapping l0. A trap comprising a trap section and a cage section adapted to be interlocked with one another, a removable partition member positionedbetween said sections and having an opening formed' therein, a spring` door for normally closing said opening, said tra p section having a compartment opposite the door opening o1 the partition, said trap seetion having an entrance opening 'for aV victim, and means Within said trap section for directing a victim entering` the same to the compartment opposite the door of the partition. Y l1. A trap comprising a trap section and a cage section adapted to be interlocked with one another, a removable partition member positioned between said sections and having an opening formed therein, a spring,` door for normallyelosing said opening, said trap section having a compartment opposite the door opening,` of the'partition, said trap section havingan entrance opening for a victim, means Within said trap section for directing a Victim entering the same to the compartment opposite the door et the partition, and means for preventing a victim from escaping from the compartment in the trapseetion except by way'otl the doei' opening leading to the cage section.

12. A trap comprising` a trap section and a cage section adapted to be inter-locked with one another, a removable partitioninember positioned between said sections and having an opening formed therein, a spring `door for normally closing said opening, said rap lsection having a compartment opposite ,the door opening` of the partition, said trap section having` an entrance opening for a victim, means Within said trap section for directing a victim entering` the same to the compartment opposite the door of the partition, means for'preventing a victiinfrom escaping from the compartment inthe trap section except by-Way of the door opening` leading to the cage section, and hinged cover Y members foreach of said sections ol' the trap, one of said trap sections beingpprovided with hinged means for the cover members. i Y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence ot' two Witnesses.

NAPOLEGN B.v BRANDENBURGr.A

Vitnesses:

LEE RiLY Bimenes, ETHEL IRENE HOFFMAN.v 

